Wire-coil conveyer



S. AND J. ZOPPELT.

WIRE COIL CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

5 fl /Q7 /04 3 I MVENTO v1 S. AND I. ZOPPELT.

WIRE COIL CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I92I.

1,417,288, nted May23,1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

narrate stares warrant came a SAMUEL ZOPJPELT AND JUHIQ' ZOJPJPELT, @FMONAOA, PTENNSTLVADTEA.

' WIRE-COIL converse.

amas.

To all whom elf may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUELZOPPELT and JOHN ZOPPELT, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Monaca, in the county of Beaver and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWire-Coil Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire coil conveyers designed for use inconnection with wire drawing apparatus, and the primary objects of theinvention are to provide a device of the character described, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, which is automatically operable to pickup, transfer, and deposit a wire coil from one reel to another after adrawing operation, and which will be automatically brought to a stopshould the wire, for any reason, not be reduced to the proper gaugeduring the drawing operation; eliminating the arduous labor oftransferring the coils manually, and providing for the economicalmanufacture of wire by permitting of one operator attending to a batteryof units.'

' Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the classstated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable and efiicient in its use, positive in its operation, andcomparatlvely inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of theseand such other-objects as may hereinafterappear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination 3and 1 arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of theinvention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to, without departing from the principle.or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, which comewithin the scope of the claims hereunto appended. a

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wire coil conveyer inaccordance with this invention with portions thereof shown in crosssection.

under such conditions entirely Specification of Letters .Eatent. Pgmtgmfjl M 23 ggg Application filed February 2 .1, 1921.

Elerial Ito. 147,614.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the drive mechanism andassociated parts. F1gures 3, 4:, and 5 are diagrammatic viewsillustrating. the neutral, forward, and reverse posltions of the switchused in connection with the operationof the carriage drivin motor.

igure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the contact elements of thehoisting motor and associated parts. 0

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 indicates the floor upon which thecoil block 2 is rotatably mounted. The coil block 2 is driven by avertical shaft 3 positioned be neath the floor 1 and suitably journaled,as at 4. A bevel gear 5 is loosely carried on the shaft 3 and isprovided with a clutch portion 6 formed integrally therewith. A bevelgear 7 meshes with the gear 5 and is fixed to the drive shaft 8 whichlatter is supported in the bearing bracket 9. A clutch member 10 isslidably mounted on the shaft 3 and is adapted to turn therewith andengage, when shifted, with the clutch portion to the clutch lever 19,which latter has oneend pivotally connected, as at 20, in the support21-, and the other end, as at 22, to the clutch member 10.

The cylinder 12 is providedwith u air inlet supply pipe 23 and anairoutlet pipe 24:- The air inlet and the air outlet are in horizontalalinement relative to each other adjacent to the upper end'of thecylinder 12.

A hollow plunger 25, formed with the chamber 26, is slidably mounted forverti-v cal movement in the upper portion of the air cylinder 12. Theupper portion of the Will plunger 25 is closed and is provided with I anannular flange 27 which limits the downward movement of the plunger 25in the cylinder 12. The plunger 2'5'has a bottom block 2.

28 provided with an airport 29. The

are adapted to register respectively with the.

air inlet'23 and the air outlet 24, when the plunger is in the downwardpositlon, in other words, when the flange 27 rests upon the top 13 ofthe cylinder 12. An air port 31, adapted to register with the air inlet23 of the cylinder 12 when the plunger 25 is moved upwardly, is formedin the latter, for the purpose hereinafter fully explalned.

Positioned over the wire block 21s a track 32 upon which a dependingcarriage 33 is adapted to travel. The carriage 33 is provided with ahoisting motor 34 and a driving motor 35. The motor 34 through the inion36 and gear 37 drives the winding rum 38, and the motor 35 through thegears 39 and 40 drives the carriage 33 along the track, 32.

The coil block 2 is provided on its periphery with two pairs ofdiametrically disposed vertical grooves 41, one pair of said groovesbeing positioned at right angles with respect to the other of said pairof grooves.

A carrier 42 is swivelly connected, as at 43, with a hollow head 44,which latter is attached, as at 45, to the hoisting cable 46 adapted towind upon the winding drum 38.

The carrier 42 comprises four depending arms 47, each of which isadapted toengage in one of the vertical grooves 41 of the wire block 2.The lower end of each of the arms 47 carries an L-shaped member 48,pivotally connected thereto, as at v49. The horizontal leg 50 of each ofthe L-shaped members 48 projects beyond the. periphery of the block2 atthe lower end thereof. The vertical leg of each of the L-shaped members48 is flush with the periphery of the A tripping link 51 is slidablymounted in the upper end of the carrier 42 and extends into the hollowhead 44. A tripping line 52, having one end thereof connected, as at 53,with the heel of each of the L-shaped members 48, and the other end.with the tripping link 52, is provided for the purpose of withdrawingthe L-shaped members 48, durin the tripping operation in a manner ashereinafter described.

Secured to the track 32, by means of a bracket 54, is an air cylinder55, which is supplied with air through the air supply pipe 24 whichcommunicates therewith.

The cylinder 55 is provided with a piston head 56 and a piston rod 57. Aspring 58 is mounted on the rod 57 within the cylinder 55 and normallyacts to force the piston 56 to the rearward position. A sub-- stantiallyV-shaped contact member 59 is pivotally connected, as at 60, to thebracket connected, as at 61, with the forward end. U

of the piston rod 57, while the other arm is formed with the contact 62,to which the lead in wire 63 is connected.

A contact block 64 is pivotally connected, as at 65, to the carriage 33,in a manner'to permit of the block 64 to be swung upwardly and notdownwardly. When the contact 62 engages the contact block 64 on itsforward movement, the motor 34 will be driven in a direction to wind thehoisting cable on the drum 38; A contact block 66 isxpivotallyconnected, as at 67 to the carriage 33 below the contact block 64, in amanner to permit the block '66 to be swung downwardly but not upwardly.When the contact 62 engages the contact block 66, the motor 34 will bedriven in a reverse direction to unwind the hoisting cable 46 from thedrum 38. A spring 68 normally returns and holds the block 66 in thehorizontal position. A pin stop 69 mounted in the bracket 54 limits theforward movement of the contact member 59. A flexible member 70 connectsthe hoisting cable 46 with the free end of the contact block 66. r

A switch operating lever 71 is pivotally connected, as at 72, to thecarriage 33, ano is provided with an aperture 73 for the passage of thehoisting cable 46. An actuating pawl 74 is hingedly connected, as at 75,to the free end of the lever 71. A spring 76 normally holds the pawl 74in the {vertical position, but permits of its being swung inwardlytoward the connected end of the lever 71.

A button 77 is fixed to the cable 46 for the purpose of actuating thelever 71 when the cable moves upwardly upon being Wound upon the drum38. p

The pawl 74 is formed with an angularly disposed portion 78 having aflat upper face and an inclined under face. A switch lever 79 ispivotally connected, as at 80, to the carriage 33, and is provided withan angularly disposed portion 81 having an inclined upper face and afiat under face. The motor 35 is provided with a pair of operatingcontacts 82 and 83, respectively. When the switch lever 79 engages thecontact 83 the motor 35 will operate to drive the carriage 33 forward,but when the switch lever 79 is brought in contact with the contact 82,the

motor 35 will reverse and drive the carriage in the reverse direction.

An angularly disposed tripping lever 84 p the head 44. A tripper 87 isfixed in the path of travel of the lever 84 for the purpose qofoperating the latter to release the 1,417,.aas

coil of wire from the carrier in a manner hereinafter described.

A trip arm 88 is fixed in the path of travel of the carriage 33 forthrowingthe switch lever 79 from contact 83 to the contact 82 to reversethe motor 35 during the travel of the carriage. An angularly disposedtrip arm 89 is fixed in the path of travel of-the carriage and isadapted to release the'pawl 78 from the switch lever 79 before the triparm 88 throws the switch lever 79 to reverse the motor 35. a

A spring controlled grab 90 is fixed to one of the depending arms 47 ofthe carrier 42 for holding the end of the wire when starting the drawingoperation. A flexible line 91 connects the gra'b 90 with the trippinglink 51 for automatically releasing the end of the wire during thetripping operation.

A retaining member 92 is pivotally carried, as at 93, in the slot 94 inthe floor 1. The upper end of the member 92 is provided with anoperating t'readle 95, and the depending portion with the shoulder 96and the recess 97 The shoulder 96 serves to hold the plunger 25 fromupward movement when the flange of the plunger rests on the top of thecylinder 12 and the ports 30 of the plunger register with the air inletand outlet of the cylinder 12. The recess 97 is adapted to engage theflange 27 and hold the plunger 25 from movement in either direction whenthe port 31 registers with the air inlet 23. A spring 98 acts tonormally draw the member 92 toward the plunger 25.

A flexible member'99, passing over the roller 100, is rotatably mountedin a slot 101 in the floor 1, and has one end connected to the top ofthe plunger 25 and the other or upper end provided with. a wire gauge102. The wire 103 after passing through the drawing dies passes throughthe gauge 102 and in connection with the latter supports the plunger 25during the drawing operation.

A trip arm 104 is fixed in the path of a travel of the carriage 33 forreturning the switch lever 79 to the neutral position on the returntravel of the carriage for stopping the motor A resilient clamp 106 isfixed to the head 44, for holding the coil from distention during theconveying operation.

A wire reel is indicated at 105 which is rotatably-mounted on thefloor 1. The reel 105 is adapted to receive the coil from the conveyingapparatus during the operation of the latter which will now beexplained.

The operation of the wire coil conveyer in practice is as follows:Assuming that the parts of the conveyer apparatus are substantially inthe position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and the coil of wire tobe drawn or reduced is positioned on a reel similar to that shown at105, an end of the wire is manually drawn through the reducing ordrawing dies, not. shown, then passed through the gauge 102 and securedin the grab 90 on one of the depending arms 47 of the carrier 42.

The drive shaft 8 with the gear 7 is running continuously and nowdriving the gear 5, with the'clutch portion 6. idly on the shaft 3. Theplunger 25 is partly elevated in the cylinder 12, with the flange 27 ofthe plunger 25 engaged in the recess 97 of the retaining member 92, andwith the port 31 registering with the air inlet pipe The air is passingthrough the port 31 and through the port 29 in the bottom ofthe plunger25 and acting against the piston head 16-, holding the latter in thedownward position, thereby holding the clutch member 10 dis-engaged fromthe clutch portion 6, against the action of the spring 11, through theassociation of the clutch lever 19 and rod 14 with the piston head 16.

By releasing the retaining member 92 from the flange 27 by operating thetreadle 95, and elevating the plunger 25 by manually lifting on theflexible member 99 until the ports 30 clear the top of the cylinder 12,inlet port 23 of the cylinder 12 will be closed and the air expelledfrom the plunger 25 and the cylinder 12 through the ports 30 in theplunger 25. Upon expulsion of the air the spring 11 will act to throwthe clutch member 10 into engagement with the clutch portion 6 of thegear 5, thereby driving the shaft 3 and the wire block 2 connectedtherewith.

Upon rotation of the block 2, the carrier 42, being swivelly connectedwith the head 44, will rotate with the block 2. The wire 103 will now bedrawn through the drawing dies and coiled around the block 2. The wire103 being drawn taut and passing through the gauge 102, the plunger 25willbe supported in the cylinder 12 by the flexible. member 99, whichconnects with the plunger 25 and with the gauge 102. The flexible member99 is of such length as'to position the plunger 25 in the cylinder.12with the air inlet 23 intermediate of the ports 30 and 31, therebyclosing the air inlet 23 during the drawing operation. Also during thedrawing operation the flange 27 of the plunger 25 will engage that havebeen brought into registration with the air inlet 23, allowing the airto act against the piston head 16 to dis-engage the wire having passedthrough the gauge 102, the plunger 25 will be permitted to drop into thecylinder 12 until the flange 27 thereof rests upon the top of thecylinder 12 andthe flange 27 is engaged by the shoulder 96 of theretaining member 92, thereby locking the plunger 25in the cylinder 12.This position of the plunger 25 in the cylinder 12,

will bring the ports 30 of the former into registration with the airinlet 23 and the air outlet 24 of the latter. The rotation of the block2 will be arrested by the passage of the air through the port 29 asherein before described. The action of the retaining member 92 is suchas to arrest the upward movement of the plunger 25 at all times whenunder pressure.

One of the ports 30 being in registration with the outlet 24, the airwill pass therethrough to the cylinder 55, forcing the piston head 56forwardly together with the V- shaped contact member 59, connectedthereto by the rod 57. When the contact 62, of the member 59 engages thecontact block 64, the motor 34 will operate to wind the drum 38 hoistingthe carrier 42 now carry ing a coil of wire to'be conveyed. Thishoisting operation will continue until the button 77, fixed on the cable46, engages the switch operating lever 71, causing the pawl 74 to engageand throw the switch lever 79 into engagement with the contact 83,causing the operation of the motor 35 to drive the carriage 33 forwardalong the track 32. Upon the travel of the carriage 33 on the track 32,the contact between the contact 62 and the contact block 64 willbe'broken and the operation of the motor 34 stopped. When this contactisbroken by the travel of the carriage 33, the. air in the cylinder 55will force the piston head 56v still farther forward until the V-shap edmember 59 strikes the pin stop 69. v

Upon the forward travel of the carriage 33 the tripper 87 will actuatethe tripping lever 84 to elevate the link 51, thereby causing thewithdrawal of the L-shaped members 48 through the tripping lines 52, andreleasing the end of the wire from the grab 90 through the line 91, andallowing the coil of wire to drop from the carrier 42 to the reel 105,which latter is so positioned as to receive the coil during the trippingoperation. p

Upon further travel of the carriage 33 the trip arm 89 will disengagethe pawl 74 from the switch lever 79, allowing the tripv arm 88 to throwthe switch lever 79 from the contact 83 to the contact 82,,therebyreversing the motor 35 and causing the carriage-33 to return to. theoriginal position. Upon the return travel of the carriage 33, thetripper arm 104 will throw the switch lever 79 to the neutral positionand stop the operation of the motor 35.

When the carriage 33 has reached its return position, contact 62 willmake contact with the contact block 66, operating the motor 34 to lowerthe carrier 42 to the block 2. 'When the carrier 42 has been positionedon the block; 2, the line 70 will have drawn the contact block 66downwardly, breaking the contact between the latter and the con tact 62,and stopping the motor 34.

When the air is expelled from the cylinder i 12 and plunger 25, asstated, the piston head 56 and the V-shaped contact 59 will return tothe normaleposition due to the action of the spring 58. The inclinedunder face of the angularly disposed portion 78 and the ing members tomaintain the coil on the carrier during the shifting thereof, means forrevolving the carrier, a combined carrier elevating and transportingmechanism including a driving element and a cylinder having a springcontrolled and fluid pressure operated piston for throwing said drivingelement into operation, a trip lever supported by the carrier andadapted when actuated to shift said members to release the coil of wirefrom the carrier when the latter arrives at.its point of destination, 3.fluid pressure mechanism adapted to communicate with said.cylinder andincluding a controlling plunger suspended from the wireduring thecoiling operation .for antomatically discontinuing the operation of saidrevolvin means on'comp'letion of the coil and furt er on completion ofthe coil to throw into operation said spring con. trolled piston tooperate said driving element.

2. An apparatus for the purposejset forth comprising a carrier on whichthe wire is coiled, means for revolving the carrier, to-

coil the Wire, a clutching mechanism for connectlng said means with aprime mover therefor, a cylinder provided wlth a piston head connectedWith said clutching mecha-' ing the coiling operation and includingmeans whereby said plunger is shifted if the Wire is defective to causethe supply of pressure against said head to discontinue the 15 operationof the means for revolving the carrler.

In testlmony whereof We aflix our signatures.

SAMUEL ZOPPELT. JOHN ZOPPELT.

